He may have had a crucial try marred by a lack of video referral and his side may have lost the decider, but Molong-born Dragons fullback Cody Ramsey was arguably the biggest winner from the NRL Nines in Perth over the weekend.
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One of 13 western-raised players at the NRL Nines, Ramsey shone on the field and earned a nod in the team of the tournament and taking his side into the finals campaign before they fell at the final hurdle to the Cowboys.
He's also mounted his case to be next in line behind Zac Lomax to have the first crack at the fullback slot should the 20-year-old join the mounting injury list in the Illawarra.
Captain Cam McInness (medial ligament), Korbin Sims (broken arm), and Matt Dufty (fractured cheekbone) all went down during the Nines tournament leaving Dragons coach Paul McGregor fuming, but Ramsey would be one thing bringing a smile to his face.
The former Manildra player and Molong product scored his third try against Penrith in their final round game to send the side into an unlikely semi-finals appearance, capping the hat-trick in controversial circumstances.
Trailing 17-13 with no time left on the clock, Ben Hunt lofted a kick to the corner with Ramsey pulling it down for what looked like his hat-trick of four pointers and the win.
With no video referee in operation, on-field adjudicator Ben Cummins relied on the reports of his touch and in-goal judges to award the try only for replays to show Ramsey hadn't gone close to getting it into the Panthers in-goal.
It wasn't up for review, except for the thousands and fans and viewers with the benefit of replays, who voiced their displeasure at an incident that sure to mar the entire tournament.
"I would've liked to get it in the in-goal but it is what it is," Ramsey said.
"It's a bit disappointing, I thought I got it but, in the end it's up to the refs, I'm not the one making the call."
Wellington products Blake Ferguson and Tyrone Roberts made the semi-finals also, with Parramatta Eels and the Gold Coast Titans respectively.